10. Mexicali Live
At first glance, Mexicali Live is a simple yet unique Southwestern / South American restaurant with a great selection of beer. Stay a little past dinnertime and the venue's true colors show; some of the areas best bands as well as national acts grace the stage that the diners face on a nightly basis. The concertgoers and self proclaimed "foodies" that frequent the establishment rarely butt heads due to the eclectic nature of the musical acts and cuisine being served. Walk ins are common as the venue is located in the heart of Teaneck on the very busy Queen Anne Road.
Even though the venue cannot hold all that many people, two hundred at most, Excess db still brings some of the best tours and acts to the stage while charging a very reasonable sum. Mexicali Live is a gem of a venue if you have not discovered it. I have only seen a few shows there but they were well put together with excellent sound and I was able to enjoy delicious beers along with them. - James McGrath
Talent: 6
Sound: 9
Atmosphere: 7.5
View: 8
Concessions: 8
Overall: 7.7
9. The Court Tavern
Lying on the corner of Church Street and Spring Street, The Court Tavern is the only "official" venue helping keep the underground scene alive in New Brunswick. Aside from the legendary basement shows, the Court has helped hand craft the likes of The Bouncing Souls, Lifetime, The Gaslight Anthem and the Screaming Females, just to name a few. Although limited to 21 and over, the court tavern has a soft spot in the hearts of many New Brunswick punks, and there's a reason the Gaslight Anthem wrote a song entitled "The Diamond Church Street Quire" -- this venue was built on its pride. - Alex Napoliello
Talent: 5.5
Sound: 8
Atmosphere: 8
View: 9
Concessions: 9
Overall: 7.9
8. Meat Locker
No venue in New Jersey is more DIY than the Meat Locker in Montclair. The basement venue has been running strong for almost 30 years. Many notable acts have played here including Black Flag, Ted Leo and The Banner. Whether you're there to see the latest underground indie act or the up-and-coming thrash metal band, the Meat Locker will always have something for everyone. - Terrance Pryor
Talent: 6
Sound: 5
Atmosphere: 10
View: 9
Concessions: ha (omitted)
Punk Rockness: 10
Overall: 8
7. Borgata Events Center
The Borgata Events Center is one of my favorite places to see a show in Jersey. With 2400+ seats, it's semi-massive, yet feels as intimate as a small club show. Because of their killer acoustics, The Borgata has hosted everyone from Brand New to Mary J. Blige and everyone in between. Depending on the type of show, you'll find one of three seating set-ups: reserved seating, floor standing/reserved risers or standing room only. My personal favorite is the floor standing/reserved riser seating because you have the choice of pushing all the way up to the front of the stage/pit or sitting back and relaxing. No matter where you are, you can see the stage just fine. Plus, what other venue can you see a show, drink free booze, gamble, go to an all-night after party and then stumble upstairs to your room? - Melissa McCarthy
Talent: 8
Sound: 9
Atmosphere: 9
View: 8
Concessions: 7
Overall: 8.2
6. House of Blues
The well respected House of Blues took it's name to Atlantic City in 2005. The aesthetically designed venue located along the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk has hosted a countless number of legendary acts in just the five years it's been in existence. The multi-level, 2,000 capacity concert hall allows you to have a great view while enjoying their state of the art sound system. Also, if you're for some reason not feeling the music you could always grab a bite to eat at the HOB restaurant. What else could you want from a venue?
Talent: 7
Sound: 8
Atmosphere: 9
View: 9
Concessions: 8.5
Overall: 8.3
5. Asbury Lanes
Though the landmark bowling pin sign is in shambles, Asbury Lanes' reputation to put on one hell of a show is not. What other venue in New Jersey can you bowl while listening to some of the best punk rock in the area Though the Stone Pony is known to get some of the bigger names, Asbury Lanes is where the true punk rock music in Asbury Park is found. You won't find the Boss playing a show at the lanes anytime soon, and lets keep it that way. - Alex Napoliello
"The first time I heard about Asbury Lanes I didn't know what to expect, but after going to my first show there, I was immediately hooked. The Lanes is Asbury culture for everyone from up-and-coming bands, to timeless punk rock legends. Playing The Lanes is a right of passage for any band, and especially my own. You'll realize that it's not a lot of people who have heard of it, but it's the right people that have heard of it. I want to say it's more than a bowling alley and I want to say it is more than a music venue but the honest truth is it is something all together separate from both of those things. You're in the 50's, you're in the 90's, you're seeing a burlesque show, you're seeing a metal band, you're paying less than $10 and you are drunk screaming at the top of your lungs in the heart of Asbury Park, NJ. That's Asbury Lanes." - Joe Michelini, River City Extension
Talent: 7.5
Sound: 8
Atmosphere: 9
View: 9
Concessions: 9
Overall: 8.5
4. Starland Ballroom
There aren't many 1000+ capacity venues anywhere that will give you a better view than you get at Starland Ballroom. Though the immediate area of the venue may be "in the middle of no where", essential due to it's Central Jersey location Starland is one of the most accessible venues in NJ. I could go on about what things are great about the concert hall and what needs improvement, but I'll let the fact that SB is one of best ticket selling concert nightclubs in the world speak for itself.
"Starland is the biggest little venue in the world. Most people don't realize that it holds as many people as the Roseland Ballroom in NYC because it feels so intimate. We've made a tradition of playing a homecoming show at Starland every holiday season. It's become part of the very fabric of our band." -Geoff Rickly, Thursday
Talent: 8
Sound: 9
Atmosphere: 8.5
View: 9
Concessions: 8.5
Overall: 8.6
3. The Stone Pony
When you think of venues in New Jersey, the Stone Pony undoubtedly comes to mind first. Perhaps one most well-know venues in the country, the Stone Pony is built around its music history. Since the early 70's, The Pony has served as a perfect pit stop for musicians en route to the Big Apple. While hosting some of the bigger names in the industry, the Stone Pony still pays its dues to the locals by catering to the underground scene as well. But what really makes this venue one of the top in the state is the summer stage set up. On any given
warm, summer night you don't even need a ticket to catch a performance at one of the most legendary spots in the nation. - Alex Napoliello
"Every time I take the stage at the Stone Pony, I pause and think with reverence of all the great rock legends that have played there before me. I can't help but fantasize about what it must have been like to see Springsteen play the Pony back in the earliest days, and I feel like somehow that energy remains there today. It's one of those perfect things, I 'm so happy the Pony's still around, and I hope it'll stay around for years to come." - Bryan Kienlen, The Bouncing Souls
Talent: 7.5
Sound: 9
Atmosphere: 9
View: 9
Concessions: 9
Overall: 8.7
2. Wellmont Theatre
When you cover shows 3-5 nights a week it's hard to be genuinely excited about each. However I can't think of even one show that I've seen at the Wellmont Theatre that I hadn't been eagerly awaiting. I guess it mostly comes down to the fact that the renovated theatre consistently brings in top of the line talent, that before it's reopening in 2008, would have most usually skipped over NJ. It doesn't end there though, between being located in the the majestic Montclair, having mind boggling sound and a welcoming aura, the 88 year old Theatre holds a special place in NJ concert goers hearts.
Talent: 9.5
Sound: 9.5
Atmosphere: 10
View: 9
Concessions: 7
Overall: 9
1. Maxwell's
The Maxwell House factory that gave Maxwell's its name is long gone (along with the enchanting smell of roasting coffee that used to caffeinate the Mile Square City,) but this small (200 capacity) club's reputation looms as large as ever after more than 30 years. Forget that practically every indie band that mattered in the Eighties (from the Replacements to R.E.M. to Husker Du) played there, or that Bruce Springsteen filmed his "Glory Days" video in that fabled back room; today, Maxwell's remains more relevant than ever, whether it's helping launch the careers of Garden State hitmakers like Screaming Females, Gaslight Anthem, and Val Emmich or hosting the trendiest indie bands when they trek through the Greater New York area. A restaurant (which makes the venue all-ages for every show,) a bar, and a rock club, Maxwell's remains the best place in New Jersey to grab a burger, hoist a brew, or see your favorite band. - Jim Testa
